12/13/2008

Mind-mapping is an excellent and proven personal approach to envisioning the complete "landscape" of a problem, issue or opportunity. This radiant method of thought expansion can reliably open new gateways to elements which have not been considered or realized before you started the process. This tool can offer a "settling" or "perspective-taking" value when attempting to understand and respond to complex circumstances or situations, since it provides a means for both a detailed assessment and a holistic vantage.

If you desire to learn how to use this brain tool, I encourage you to get the below advised book by Tony Buzan (one of the most predominant proponents and guides in radiant thinking) and follow his sage and globally respected advice to the letter, from cover to cover.

As you will better appreciate as you follow the principles and instructions of Buzan's book, mind mapping is much more than "a sketch with tentacles"... it offers to you new dimensions of far reaching expansion of thought, a more comprehensive understanding, sparks creativity and informs decisions. (...And to those of you that say, "I'm not creative" or "I can't draw"... these simply are not acceptable excuses. There's no reason you cannot begin enjoying the vast benefits of this personal tool for improved thought and creativity... just jump in!)

I suggest that you apply "pen/pencil to a very large sheet of paper" with ample time at one your favorite relaxing places whenever you want to do serious mind mapping (preferably with a wide variety of colored inks and no distractions). However, if you're simply bonded to your computer, here are four of my favorite thought mapping tools for the computer (each have their own distinctions as to value and utilities):